{"id":1442,"date":"2022-04-04T16:01:20","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T16:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/?p=1442"},"modified":"2023-03-01T17:48:19","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T17:48:19","slug":"how-to-transition-from-universal-analytics-to-ga4-and-preserve-data-with-datapulse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/seo\/how-to-transition-from-universal-analytics-to-ga4-and-preserve-data-with-datapulse\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Transition from Universal Analytics to GA4 and Preserve Data with DataPulse"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are an internet marketer, web developer, or website owner, chances are you\u2019ve heard the big news from Google: Universal Analytics is being sunset in favor of Google Analytics 4 (GA4).&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The internet has largely responded with an overwhelming sense of disbelief and, above all, dissatisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1443\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image4.png\" alt=\"dissatisfaction with ga4\" width=\"619\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image4.png 619w, https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image4-300x249.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 619px) 100vw, 619px\" \/><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although this transition has been in the works since late 2020, GA4 has been met with wide criticism about being \u201chalf-finished\u201d and \u201cmissing features.\u201d Nonetheless, the hard deadline is July 1, 2023, and online businesses will need to transition before UA properties stop processing new hits (Analytics 360 properties will stop on October 1, 2023).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all the things that GA4 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can\u2019t<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> do, it\u2019s hard to imagine how you\u2019ll make it all work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve thought about it too and came up with a pretty incredible system that addresses GA4\u2019s four most significant limitations. It\u2019s called DataPulse, and it will transform the way you view and interact with your data.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image1.png\" alt=\"datapulse\" width=\"536\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image1.png 536w, https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image1-300x120.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is DataPulse?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DataPulse is a custom tool designed by Digital Position to address the lack of quality cross-platform reporting tools on the market. It\u2019s loaded with features like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automated data pulling and refresh<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ability to break-out data by landing page and other advanced segments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Combining data from multiple APIs and data sources<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alerting when account performance drops<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beautiful reporting on the metrics that matter most<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s dive into GA4\u2019s most significant limitations and how DataPulse can alleviate your fears about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four Major Limitations of GA4 [and How to Avoid Them with DataPulse]<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Data Loss<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p><b>How can I keep UA (Universal Analytics) data from being lost after the transition?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the biggest complaints regarding the transition is the loss of data. Hands down, the best part about Analytics is the staggering amount of data it captures. It can also be invaluable as a final source of truth when troubleshooting checkout issues, proving the value you\u2019re driving for clients, or even doing taxes!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fact that Google is trashing all that data to many users is a travesty and much worse than being forced to use GA4 (or switching to an alternative). Thankfully we have some time to save the data before it\u2019s too late. There are three primary ways to hold on to it:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manually (Go into your analytics views and export)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gsuite.google.com\/u\/0\/marketplace\/app\/google_analytics\/477988381226?_ga=2.144270966.232970304.1647636835-224713138.1647636835\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Analytics plugin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to export the data into Google Sheets<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/analytics\/devguides\/reporting\/core\/v4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">API<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DataPulse uses the API to pull our clients\u2019 data, and while we don\u2019t pull <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">everything<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we work with them as part of onboarding to generate a set of specific metrics which will be valuable to them and actionable for years to come. Once we have the data, the sky&#8217;s the limit for how to visualize it. We think our reports are beautiful, especially when we\u2019re crushing ROAS goals!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1445\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image3.png\" alt=\"crushing roas goals\" width=\"814\" height=\"286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image3.png 814w, https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image3-300x105.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image3-768x270.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 814px) 100vw, 814px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google actually has 2 Analytics APIs: one for UA and one for GA4. DataPulse supports pulling from both, so before, during, and after the transition, there will be no lapse in reporting (music to your ears, right?)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We launched DataPulse in 2018 and preserve our data infinitely. Even if you cancel or pause your services with us, we can archive your data should you wish to resume at a later date.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Importing &amp; Combining Historical UA Data<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>How can I combine GA4 data and UA (Universal Analytics) data?<\/b><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another big issue with GA4 is that there seems to be no way to import historical UA data into your GA4 account or combine the data in any way. There is some speculation on why Google would make such a decision that negatively affects so many of our lives, but as of right now, there is no officially supported way to combine data from each platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DataPulse can pull from both platforms and even combine both data sources in the same view so you can get the complete picture of your performance up until, during, and through the transition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GA4 has sadly not carried over some key metrics (such as bounces and bounce rate), trying to shift our focus on engaged sessions instead, and while new metrics are great, they shouldn\u2019t come at the expense of old metrics we rely on. While there\u2019s nothing we can do about bounces being discontinued, at the very least, with DataPulse, you can hold on to those metrics and, if you have a GA4 property, display those metrics side by side in the same report.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DataPulse can also pull from all of your favorite SEO reporting tools. Whether it\u2019s keyword data from Search Console or a backlink profile from SEMRush, we can pull the data you need and display it all in the same place in one beautiful dashboard.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nothing is more satisfying than CRUSHING your goals, and that mentality is built into all the data we present.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1446\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image2.png\" alt=\"crushing your goals\" width=\"676\" height=\"402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image2.png 676w, https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image2-300x178.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It doesn\u2019t stop there. We also connect to all the most popular PPC advertising platforms (Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Facebook Ads, etc.), so if you run paid ads in addition to your SEO campaigns, all of this data can be combined as well, giving you a comprehensive view of your key performance indicators.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Views Not Supported<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>How can I organize my data if GA4 doesn\u2019t support views?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GA4 does not support views, and that means that every event triggered from your production site and any staging sites will all get sent to the same place. Many users utilize views in UA to separate data by country or to test out new attribution strategies.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Analytics 360 users will have the ability to create something called <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/analytics\/answer\/11525732\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">subproperties<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Google has locked that feature for the rest of us.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get around this limitation, you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">could<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> create several totally separate GA4 properties. But honestly, this can be confusing for reporting purposes. Plus, it doubles the amount of tracking script installation &amp; configuration needed just to get up and running.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another option is to create separate <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/analytics\/answer\/9304153?hl=en#stream\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">data streams<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (can be a website or an app) that all link to the same property, but this option also has its own downsides. For instance, if you prefer to keep the data separate, the property will act as a roll-up and combine possibly unrelated data. We\u2019ll pass on that, too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DataPulse can help simplify the problem by allowing you to combine data from multiple GA4 properties into one dashboard. And, as anyone who has used the GA4 interface for reporting can tell you, this is an absolute godsend.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Frustrating Interface Layout<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>How can I navigate the new GA4 interface and find my old reports?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lots of criticism of GA4 comes from the fact that the layout of the interface has been chewed up, regurgitated, and put back together in a way that somewhat resembles UA but is so *tragically* not.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just try to view conversions segmented by landing page path in the new interface or transaction rate segmented by country year over year. What sounds like simple reports to generate are actually frustratingly hard to find or even nonexistent in the case of some reports like behavior flow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While we can\u2019t do anything about the platform&#8217;s limitations, in DataPulse, we pull all the core metrics you are used to seeing in UA and display them in your reports in a way that makes sense and is easy to understand. We only show actionable metrics related to your specific scenario, taking into account your goals as a business (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/seo-services-agency\/ecommerce\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eCommerce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> vs. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/seo-services-agency\/lead-gen\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lead generation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We keep continuity between the platforms as well, so whether it\u2019s \u2018goal completions\u2019 in UA, \u2018conversions\u2019 in GA4, or \u2018transactions\u2019 (in both), in DataPulse, we pull everything, wrap it up into one and simply call it what is: a \u201cconversion.\u201d As in, whatever action matters most to your business. It\u2019s the way reporting should be, and we don\u2019t let Google\u2019s flip-flopping between this or that platform get in the way.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DataPulse: Clear Reporting Solutions for an Ever-Changing Digital Landscape<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Automated reporting with live, all-star service<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the midst of the GA4 chaos and frustration, DataPulse offers clear solutions to make reporting easy. The digital landscape is constantly changing, and if you don\u2019t stay on top of it, you could find yourself and your business in hot water. Not to mention stress and bogged down by frustration. Making your brand shine is what we do, and making reporting a breeze is what DataPulse does\u2013period.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Digital Position Can Help<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether we like it or not, GA4 is here to stay. And if you\u2019ve read this far, then you\u2019re probably worried about what Universal Analytics being sunsetted means for your business or your clients. Whatever roadblocks it might put in your way, now is the time to take action and prepare for what\u2019s to come in the new age post-Universal Analytics.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Digital Position, we\u2019re experts in our field and passionate about what we do. We know DataPulse like the back of our hand, and we can use it to your advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few key benefits of working with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/meet-our-team\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">our team<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of best-in-class digital marketing experts:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We leverage automation to get you the freshest data from all your platforms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We can handle migration of your reporting to GA4<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We install all necessary tracking as part of onboarding<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We make your data accessible to you around the clock<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/contact-us\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact Digital Position today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to learn more about DataPulse and how our team of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/seo-services-agency\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEO<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalposition.com\/ppc-management-agency\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PPC experts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help your business grow with confidence, or to get your custom proposal!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you are an internet marketer, web developer, or website owner, chances are you\u2019ve heard the big news from Google: Universal Analytics is being sunset in favor of Google Analytics 4 (GA4).&nbsp; The internet has largely responded with an overwhelming sense of disbelief and, above all, dissatisfaction. &nbsp; Although this transition has been in the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1448,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"thumbnail_src":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/stephen-phillips-hostreviews-co-uk-shr_Xn8S8QU-unsplash-300x183.jpg","thumbnail_medium_src":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/stephen-phillips-hostreviews-co-uk-shr_Xn8S8QU-unsplash-768x468.jpg","featured_image_src":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/stephen-phillips-hostreviews-co-uk-shr_Xn8S8QU-unsplash.jpg","author_avatar_src":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/jordan1.webp","author_name":"Jordan Lagan","category_labels":["SEO"],"tag_labels":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1442"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1442"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1449,"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1442\/revisions\/1449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.digitalposition.com\/resources\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}